Block Heater Questions

Can I leave my tractor plugged in all day or night??? Can leaving it plugged in for an extended time cause any damage?? I left mine plugged in all day an noticed that my temperture gauge never indicated any warmth, however the side of my engine felt warm. I'm wondering if this could have caused my trouble with my Hydro cooler.

Re: Block Heater Questions

I also noticed that while my tractor was plugged in I could hear a sound that almost sounded like something sizzling or bubbling from the side of my tractor and I also noticed that my coolant level is low. Sorry about the whinning, I'm just frazzled over my (aforementioned post) hydro cooler and am praying that I did not do any serious damge to my tractor "Holly"

Re: Block Heater Questions

The coolant may be low because the tractor is cold. If you mean an inch or two below the cap, that's probably normal during the winter months. Keep checking it and make sure it doesn't drop any more. The sizzling from the block heater is normal. The block heater probably won't heat the engine up enough to show on the temperature gauge. You didn't hurt your tractor leaving your block heater plugged in. I've left mine plugged in for days at a time. Putting it on a timer to warm up a few hours before you use it would save electricity and extend the life of the heater.

Re: Block Heater Questions

MackAttack
I plugged my <font color="orange"> kubota </font> B2910 in yesterday morning heard the same sound from it. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]
I believe the noise is from the heater starting to get warm and the antifreeze being at 10 degrees.
When tractor warmed up the noise was gone. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Re: Block Heater Questions

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I know people who leave their heaters plugged in all the time and I am not aware of them having any problems. I know for my own situation I just plug mine in an hour or two before using the tractor. )</font>

I sometimes get up in the morning to go to work, and find I need to plow myself out. Don't have time to wait that hour or two. So I often leave them plugged in for a week or more. Haven't had a problem yet (that I know of!) [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

I really do have to look at what this does to our electric bill, though. OTOH, protecting a $25,000 tractor is probably worth a few buck of electric from time to time.

Re: Block Heater Questions

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( A timer is $20 or so, get a 15,000 watt timer.

It will save you a lot of electric bill &amp; a lot of wear on the block heater.)</font>

Block heaters wear out? I guess it makes sense, but it never occurred to me as being something to take into account. The timer makes good sense. Lately, though, I never know.. I might need to plow in the morning, maybe after work, maybe in the middle of the day.. so hard to predict....